Battle of Harim

The Battle of Artah, also Battle of Harim, took place on August 10, 1164 between the Syrian troops from Nur ad -Din and the Crusaders under Bohemond III. instead.

Prehistory

In 1164 learned Nur ad -Din that King Amalric I of Jerusalem with his main army undertook a campaign to Egypt. It was also the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I, under whose patronage was the Principality of Antioch, busy on a campaign in the Balkans. Nur ad -Din took the opportunity to attack the barely protected Principality of Antioch. When Nur al -Din fortress Harenc ( Harim ) besieged at Artah cried the Prince of Antioch, Bohemond III. , His allies from Byzantium and Tripoli to help. The approach of the Byzantine troops led by Nur ad -Din, apparently to raise the siege and retreat.

The Battle

Bohemund pursued Nur ad -Din with about 600 knights, which he rode straight into an ambush, before his Armenian allies Thoros II and Mleh had repeatedly warned him. The Knights fought back fiercely, but after a short battle, most of the Frankish troops were killed or taken prisoner. The prisoners were brought in chains to Aleppo, including most of the noble knights and nobles local, such as Raymond of Tripoli, Hugh of Lusignan and Bohemond himself escaped Thoros and Mleh.

Follow

Since Antioch was now defenseless, urged Nur ad - Din's advisor, to take the city quickly. This failed attack because he feared that the Byzantines could hold the citadel until Manuel I arrived with his army. Shortly thereafter, he dismissed the Byzantine army commander Constantine Koloman for a small ransom. Many Frankish nobles were initiated later, only Raimund wanted only not free ad-Din. He should come free captivity only after eight or ten years.